Kenneth Spencer Research Library

Each week we’ll be posting a photograph from University Archives that shows a scene from KU’s past. We’ve also scanned more than 34,800 images from KU’s University Archives and made them available online; be sure to check them out!

Head outside, Jayhawks, and enjoy the sunshine and warm weather! Cold temperatures return this weekend.

Students sitting and picnicking on the lawn in front of Old Fraser Hall, 1900s.
University Archives Photos. Call Number: RG 0/17 1900s Prints: University General:
Commencement (Photos). Click image to enlarge (redirect to Spencer’s digital collections).

Old Fraser Hall was located roughly where the modern Fraser Hall now stands. The above picture was taken during commencement festivities; if you zoom in to examine details in the image, you can see that some students are wearing mortar boards.

Caitlin Donnelly
Head of Public Services

Each week we’ll be posting a photograph from University Archives that shows a scene from KU’s past. We’ve also scanned more than 3,600 images from KU’s University Archives and made them available online; be sure to check them out!

We’ve been enjoying some gorgeous, and unseasonably warm, spring weather on Mount Oread. It’s the perfect time to take a cue from these early KU students and enjoy a picnic!

Group portrait of the KU Class of 1897 during a picnic at Blue Mound, Kansas.
University Archives Photos. Call Number: RG 71/34 1897 Prints: Student Activities: Class Pictures (Photos).
Click image to enlarge (redirect to Spencer’s digital collections).

Caitlin Donnelly
Head of Public Services

Melissa Kleinschmidt, Megan Sims, and Abbey Ulrich
Public Services Student Assistants